Hydraulic flush valve mechanism



Fe. 8, J. H. OWENS HYDRAULIC FLUSH VALVE MECHANISM Filed June 3, 1945 M INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 8, 1944 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE Q 2,341,116 L d HYDRAULIC FLUSH VALVE MECHANISM John H. Owens, Racine, Wis. Application June a, 1943, Serial No. 489,488

2 Claims. (01.4-41) I This invention relates to improvements in hydraulic flush valve mechanisms.

Flush valve mechanisms are customarily employed in the hush or water tanks of toilets or water closets. The tank contains a supply of water which may be discharged through a valvecontrolled outlet pipe to flush the toilet bowl. Unseating the valve is effected, in the usual struc-' tures, by connecting links and levers which extend to and are operated by a manual crank handle swingably mounted on an exterior portion of the water tank. The conventional flush valve operating mechanisms referred to are entirely mechanical and due to the various connections therein are somewhat haphazard in operation because of lost motion and the tendency of the parts to stick or bind.

It is, therefore, a primary objective of the present invention to overcome the objections inherent to the conventional flush valve mechanisms by providing an hydraulic flush valve mechanism which is positive, quick and responsive in its actions, and which is motivated by the liquid supplied to the flush tank of the structure. 7

A further object of theinvention is" to provide an hydraulic flush valve mechanism with which the ordinary water closet flush; tank may be equipped with little modification, and which utilizes a minimum of parts, many of which are presently standard.

. A further object of the invention is to provide" an hydraulic flush valve mechanism, which, because of its hydraulic actuation and control,

eliminates mechanical parts and connections: which are apt to get out of adjustment and repair;

the parts of the improved hydraulic flush .valve mechanism being susceptible of easy access for adjustments,repairs and replacements should the same become necessary.-

, A further object of the invention is to provide an hydraulic flush valve mechanism which is of very simple construction, is strong and durable,- is eflicient and positive in its operation, is inexpensive to manufacture and install, and is wel adapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects in view the v I inventionconsistsof the improved hydraulic flush valvemechanism; and its parts and com binations, as set forth the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In'itheaccompanying drawing in which the" same reference characters indicate the same" parts-in all of the views:

*Fig; I is a vertical longitudinal sectional view (not shown) under pressure.

through the water tank of a toilet showing the improved hydraulic flush valve mechanism;'

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fregmentary, detail view of a cylinder and hydraulically operated piston and its associated parts forming part of-the im-' proved mechanism, the cylinder being shown in vertical section; and I Fig. 3 is a detail view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with thevalve rod being shown-in section- Referring now more particularly to the drawing it will appear that the flush or atertank of a toilet installation is indicated by the numeral '8; The tank, of conventional structure, is of rectangular form in horizontal section, and is enclosed. Extending into a central bottom portion of the tank is a relatively large'diameter outlet or water discharge pipe!) whose open end portion within the lower portion of the tank is'provided with a valve seat I0 to receive a movable valve II. In actual practice the discharge pipe 9 extends to and opens into the bowl of a toilet or water closet structure (notshow'n) to discharge water from' the tank into said bowl for flushing purposes.

As is common in flush tankstructures a water supply pipe I2 extendsv ertically through a lower portion of the tank 8 and-terminates in an upper interior portion of the tank, said supply pipe I2 being spaced fromanother pipe I3 which connects with the discharge pipes'below' the valve I2, the pipe I3 serving as an overflow and relief-for water accumulated in the upper portion of the supply pipe I2 by means of a connecting cu'rved tube I4. Exteriorly of thejtank 8 the supply pipe I2 extendst'o a suitable source of water supply The upper end portion'of the supply pipe I2 is formed as a chamber 1'5 having its base portion formed withan internal valve seat l6 controlled by .a' vertically movable valve I! carried by the lower end of a valve rod I8. The structure of the pipe I2, Valve I1 and valve operatingmechanism is conventional, the latter comprising suitably mounted articulated links I9 and 20- and alever arm 2 I. At the free end of the pivotal lever arin 2| there is a ball float 22 adapted'to'riseand fall with the level offthe' water v'rithin 'the tank a aha to the'reby, through the members I 8", I a, 2 t and '2 "I unseat and seat the valve H. The inletend of a droptube 23 enters the chambered' portion- I5 of the pipe I2 abovethe valve I'll Hence, water from the-source of supplyisadmitted to the drop tube dischargesinto the lower portion ofit he tank 5 5 8 and1s;for the purpose of repleii'i'shili the" supply or water-in the tank-mm a certain. level;

after discharge of the tank contents through the discharge pipe 9.

Suitably supported relatively centrally and in an elevated position within the tank 8 is a vertical cylinder .24. Through the base of the cylinder which is equipped with a packing nut 25 and packing 26 a piston rod 27 vertically reciprooatably extends. Carried fast by the piston rod within the cylinder is a piston 28 of a diameter to aif ord clearance relative to theinternal wall of thecylinder: sothat water mayseeppast the piston. An extension of the piston rod carries a perforated stop disc 29 adapted to abut against a cushioning pad 30 within a cap 3| removably closing the upper endof the cylinder.- Thus, the abutment of the disc 29 with the pad 39 limits the upward movement ofthe piston 28 and rod 21. The apertured nature of the stop disc 29 permits water forced through the cylin-f der to pass the disc. One end portion of asmalldiameter pipe 32 enters the,cap 3! and affords communication with the upper end of the cylinder. The lower inner end portion of the cyl inder 24 is connected by a small diameter pipe 33 with the water supply pipe I 2 at a point below the valvelfi. I

Mounted against an inner upper wall portion of the tank 8 is a valve casing 34 into oneend of which the pipe 32 extends. A valve 35 carried by the inner end of a turnable valve stem 35 controls a port 31 whereby the flow ofv water from the pipe 32 to a depending, integral discharge spout 38 is controlled. The valve stem 35 is. suitably mounted to extend through the tank wall and its outer free end carries fast thereon a manipulating lever 39 which, after being manually depressed or moved to open the valve 35, is automatically returned to closing position by a spring 40, the latter being schematically shown in the drawing.

The large valve' II for the control of the tank discharge pipe 9 is ,.carried by the, lower end of a vertical rod or stem 4|. For the reciprocatable support of the latter it is convenient to adjustablyaffix a clampingbracket 42 to the pipe l3 at a suitable elevation from the valve seat I 9. The bracket 42 is provided withoutwardly projecting bored bosses 43 through, which the stem 4| slidably extends. I The upper end portionof said stem also slidably passes throughan aperture 44 in the adjacent end of a connecting plate45. The upper end of the stem 4i is formed with a knob 46 for abutment with the plate 45 upon an elevation of the cylinder piston rod 21 for lifting the stem 4i and unseating the valve I l.

The lower end of the piston rod 21 depends from the cylinder 24 and is adjustably extended through an elongated slot 45 in the other end of the connecting plate 45; Adjustable securement of the depended end of; the piston rod within the plateslot is efiected by means of ,a pair ofnuts 41. v

The operation of the improved hydraulic flush valve mechanism should be obvious from the foregoing description. Normally the tank B is filled withwater to about the level indicated in Fig. 1. The water level maintains the ball float 22 andile ver-arm 2l as shown and the valve l1, controlling water flow into the chambered portion l of the pipe I2 is closed, preventingthe addition of water to the. tank.v It should also benoted that the main discharge valve II is seated and that they valve 35, controlling discharge through thespout-38 from the cylinder and the pipe 32 is closed. Thereis, theretop pad 39.

fore, an equalization of water pressure against the piston 28 and it is thereby maintained in the normal lowered position illustrated.

If it be desired to discharge water from the tank 8 to flush equipment to which the discharge pipe 9 extends, it is only necessary for the operator to momentarily, manually depress the operating lever '39. This action will move the valve 35 to open the port 36 allowing water in the conneetions to discharge into the tank throughthe spout 38. :Thedischarge of water thus eifected lowers the pressure against the top face of the piston 28 so that there is then unequal pressure on the piston and it will be forced upwardly; inits cylinder 24, the movement being limited by contact of the stop disc 29 with the The raising of the piston causes an upward reciprocation of the piston rod 21.

The latter carries at its lower end the connecting plate 45 whose outer end then slides upwardly on the valve stem 4|. to engage theknob 46 and further lifting of the piston rod'will-the'n cause the plate 45 to lift, the valvestern 4|. to a predetermined extent thereby raising and unseating the main discharge valve 'll relative to itsseat on the discharge pipe 9. The valve is of the conventional semi-buoyant type and remains in a water supported position above the valve seat until the water in the tank reaches a'low level and suction returns the valve II to its seated position. Obviously when the valve ll isun-l seated and elevated waterfrom the tank B discharges therefrom through the outlet pipe 9 to perform its equipment flushing function. Dur, ing discharge of water from, the'tank the'water level therein drops, lowering the ball float 22. The dropping of the float causes a' downward pivotal movement of the lever'arm 2i and ultimately such movement, through the connections 20, I9 and I8 will unseat the valve 11 allowing water to flow from the inlet pipe l2 into and through the tank replenishing drop tube 23.-

Only momentary pressure onthe operating lever 39 is necessary. Upon release of pressure thereon the spring 40 will return the valveparts to normal closing position so as to prevent further jetting of'water through the spout 38. The momentary relief of pressure in the line 32 was, however sulilcient to causev the elevation of the piston 28 previously described withthe corresponding elevation of the connecting plate 45 and valvestem- 4|. Upon the closing of the valve 35 water under pressure flows from the inlet pipe I2 through the connection 33, through the cylinder 24 and past the piston'28 and disc 29 to cornpletely refill the upper connection 32 'and the" chambered portion of the valve casing 34 thereadjacent. A recoil action takes place which then drops the piston, piston rod and associated connections to the positions illustrated andlequaliz ing pressures on both faces of the piston arereestablished to maintain the parts in the last'men tioned position. Before the water in the tank reaches "a, predetermined low level and'upOn return of the piston and piston rod to normal position, the buoyant nature of the valve ll mainwhich completes the flushin operation. The

drop of said valve I I will pull with it the stem 4! 4 terminating further replenishing of the water contents of the tank. Everything is then as illustrated, ready for a reflushing operation.

main flush tank valve I I is accomplished by hydraulically operated means which are simple, effeotive and positive in operation. Available water flowing through the supply pipe I2 is utilized as the hydraulic medium. The mechanism is not open to the objections inherent to the conventional mechanical flush valve mechanisms and will function without service or diificulty for exceedingly long periods. The improved hydraulic 1.5

flush valve mechanism is furthermore inexpensive and novel, and is well adapted for the purposes described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In combination, a liquid tank, an outlet pipe therefor, a movably mounted discharge valve controlling said outlet pipe, a liquid inlet pipe entering said tank for replenishing the same, float valve means controlling the discharge end of said.

inlet pipe, a conduit system filled with liquid, 2.

reciprocatable member within an intermediate portion of said conduit system against which the liquid reacts, a liquid connection between the liquid inlet pipe and one end of the conduit system to maintain the latter constantly filled with liquid, manually controlled valve means in the other end of the conduit system to exhaust liquid therefrom to vary the liquid pressure relative to the reciprocatable member, and motion transmitting connections between the reciprocatable member and said discharge valve.

2. Manually controlled flush valve mechanism for a tank adapted to contain a body of liquid,

comprising an outlet pipe extending from a. lower portion of the tank through which liquid from the 1.? tank is selectively discharged for equipment It should be noted that the actuation of the flushing purposes, a movably mounted discharge valve within the tank controlling said outlet pipe, a liquid inlet pipe entering said tank for replenishing the same, float valve means automatically controlling the discharge end of said inlet pipe, an elongated conduit within the tank and constantly filled with liquid and connected at one end with an intermediate portion of said liquid inlet pipe, a cylinder within an intermediate portion of said conduit, a reoiprocatable iston within the cylinder against both faces of which liquid in the conduit reacts, said piston having a piston rod extending externally of th cylinder, a valve controlling the other end of the conduit to exhaust liquid therefrom to vary the liquid pressure in the conduit relative to the piston, manually manipulatable operating means for the last mentioned valve extending externally of the tank, and motion transmitting connections between the piston rod and the discharge Valve.

JOHN H. OWENS. 

